Appointments and changes

Advisory Panel

The Council reappointed Angel Drobnica, Dan Donich, Craig Lowenberg, and Joel Peterson to three-year terms. Ben Stevens was appointed to fill out the remaining two years of Shannon Carroll’s term, and John Gruver was appointed for a one-year term. Newly appointed to the AP for three-year terms are, Gretar Gudmundsson, Jamie O’Connor and Erik Velsko.

Mr. Gudmundsson of Bainbridge Island, WA, has been active in the Bering Sea commercial fisheries and most recently in the crab fisheries. He serves as the Executive Director of the Alternative Crab Exchange. Ms. O’Connor, of Homer, AK is a commercial fisherwoman in the Bristol Bay area and is a Program Coordinator for the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. Mr. Velsko, also of Homer, AK, has participated in many commercial fisheries throughout the state, and is currently owner of Dangerous Cape Fisheries, LLC. We welcome them to the process and look forward to working together on issues in the coming year.

Scientific and Statistical Committee

All current members of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee, except for Robert Clark of ADF&G, were reappointed. SSC members serve one-year terms. Robert Clark is retiring from ADF&G, and the Council appointed Dr. Andrew Munro to replace him. Dr. Munro is a Fisheries Scientist with the Division of Commercial Fisheries and in this capacity has contributed to discussions before the Council for the past seven years.

Clark Retires

Long-time SSC member, Robert Clark, was recognized by the Council for serving 11 years on the SSC representing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The Council’s Executive Director, David Witherell, presented him with a plaque thanking him for his service and dedication to the conservation and management of fisheries in the North Pacific. His expertise in Alaska fisheries and participation in the scientific peer-review process will be missed, and we wish him well in retirement.

Plan Teams

The Council appointed Dr. Anne Marie Eich to serve on the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Team, replacing Ms. Brandee Gerke. Dr. Eich is the head of the Ecosystem Branch of the Sustainable Fisheries Division at the Alaska Regional Office, and has previously served as the Alaska Region lead for seabird/fisheries interactions.

The Council appointed Dr. Jim Fall to serve on the Social Science Planning Team, to fill an ADF&G seat reserved by the Council in October 2018. Dr. Fall is the Statewide Program Manager for the Division of Subsistence, where he plans, organizes, and monitors ADF&G’s social science research relative to subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska communities. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin.

The Council appointed Mr. Andrew Kingham to serve on the BSAI Groundfish Plan Team, as a permanent replacement for the interim appointment of Ms. Jennifer Cahalan. Mr. Kingham is a Research Fishery Analyst in the AFSC Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division, bringing in-depth experience with the North Pacific Observer Program and emerging Electronic Monitoring programs.

Committees

The Council appointed Gretchen Harrington to replace Jon Kurland on the Council’s Ecosystem Committee.

The Council reappointed all members of the Pacific Northwest Crab Industry Advisory Committee (PNCIAC) to two-year terms, with the exception of Dale Schwarzmiller and Gary Stewart, who have stepped down. To replace them, the Council appointed Edward Poulsen and Mike Simpson. Jamie Goen has also been appointed to take over for Tyson Fick as non-voting Secretary.